LED strip lights have become an invaluable addition to homes and offices alike, oftentimes waterproof strips are necessary - be it in the kitchen, bathroom, outdoor area, pool area, or sauna area.
Waterproofing levels of strips have many levels. When you are buying waterproof led strip lights from China, are you able to select the ideal one? In this article, you will learn how to weld and cut waterproof LED strips.
1, What does each IP rating value mean?
IP ratings measure how resistant a strip is against dust, debris and other solid particles, including liquids (dust/dirt). IP stands for Ingress Protection Against Objects.
Two numbers are used to establish the rating.
The first number indicates the level of protection against solids.
The second number relates to liquids.
This diagram helps you gain a greater insight into the various levels of protection associated with IP ratings.
2. What are the Benefits of Watertight LED Strips?
Before installing waterproof LED strip lights, you must determine where they will be situated.
Non-waterproof bands make an ideal addition to bedrooms or living areas as the chance of fog or water exposure is extremely low. We can use IP62 and IP65 strips here too as they will block dust efficiently while making cleaning simpler.
For optimal use of led strips in your kitchen or bathroom, waterproof IP62 or IP65 level strips must be installed; installation of IP67 or IP68 level strips may also be considered if frequently exposed to moisture is expected in this space.
Install an LED strip outdoor that can withstand some water from heavy rainfall without becoming completely submerged, such as an IP67/IP68 strip.
Install the IP68 protection strip into water environments like swimming pools and fish tanks. We strongly suggest choosing this solution.
3. What Is Watertight LED Strip Lighting?
There are various methods available to you when it comes to waterproofing your LED strips, including using silicone gel, sleeves, or sleeves with watertight seals to reach various waterproof levels. This video also covers how to determine IP ratings of LED strips.
Comparing LED tape waterproof levels:
Silicone Coating IP62 for Watertighting: Apply a silicone seal over the entire strip to seal it against moisture and dust accumulation. This prevents it from getting inside.
IP62 2 provides excellent water- and dust-proofing.
Applications: Ideal for use in both dry and wet environments such as the kitchen, living room, and bathroom. However, avoid areas where there is the risk of water splashing by placing this product where there may be direct rainfall or heavy downpour.
Heat Shrink Tube, IP65
Wrap the strip in heat shrink tubing. Secure both ends of the strip using silicone end caps to complete its seal.
IP65 6 offers excellent dust and contact protection, while 5 denotes protection against water spraying from any direction.
Applications: Heat shink tube offers thinner profiles than silicone sleeves while still offering waterproofing properties, making it suitable for areas that are constantly wet or receive occasional splashes of water. Due to being hollow-walled casings it may not be appropriate for outdoor usage.
Silicone Sleeve IP65 Waterproofing: Encase the strip in a hollow silicone casing; both ends must be sealed off using silicon caps to seal them tightly against water ingress.
IP65 6 provides adequate dust and contact protection while IP65 5 stands for preventing water spraying from any angle.
Applicability: These faucets are best used in areas that frequently get wet or receive splashes of water, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and even under eaves. Unfortunately, their hollow casing does not permit outdoor use.
Silicone Sleeve with Silicone Coating Waterproofing: Encase the bottom of the strip with a silicone U-shape sleeve made of silicon for waterproofing purposes and add a coating on top.
IP67 6 rating provides excellent protection from dust and contact. The rating is determined by how well a device can withstand specific levels of pressure for an extended period.
Application designed for environments where there is often water present - for instance, ground, beach, or cruise ship decks. Direct underwater usage should not be attempted.
Waterproofing with IP68 Silicone Sleeve + Silicone Injection
Waterproofing by wrapping strips in hollow silicone casings filled with silicone injection. After filling these casings with liquid silicone sealant and creating seals around their perimeters.
IP68:6 provides excellent touch and dust protection while 8 stands for protection from water penetration.
The application is suitable for immersion into water bodies like swimming pools and fish tanks.
4. What material should be used to produce waterproof LED strips?
There are three main categories of waterproofing materials.
What are the differences between Epoxy Resin, PU Adhesive, and Silicone glue? Below is a brief explanation.
4.1Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin offers many advantages: low price, excellent maneuverability, and low toxicities. Additionally, it's used as an inexpensive waterproof material that's widely used for LED strips on the market - however, there's one inherent flaw with its molecular composition that needs to be addressed before becoming widely adopted.
Heat conductivity will shorten the lifespan of strip lights. Furthermore, epoxy resin's yellow hue fades quickly after six months affecting color temperature and its ability to withstand high or low temperatures; cracking or hardening will occur quickly when the ambient temperature falls below 0degC.
4.2 Polyurethane Glue
Polyurethane glue (PU glue) is more expensive than epoxy resin but offers superior low-temperature resistance, yellowing resistance, thermal conductivity and toxic levels of emissions from cure and production of small molecules; some compounds released are toxic and smelly to health, so when used at temperatures exceeding 80 degrees should avoid using adhesive strip with this material.
4.3 Silicone glue
It has the highest cost, yet remains environmentally-friendly, offering both the benefits of PU adhesives and epoxy gel. Furthermore, its heat and low-temperature resistance is unparalleled. Silicon LED strips remain unaffected by ambient temperatures between -50 and 300 degrees, making them the ideal solution for refrigerators and saunas. Furthermore, silicone adhesive will remain clear for many years to help maintain color temperature consistency over time. Silicone glue is an effective thermal conductor that helps dissipate heat from LED strips. For high-powered strip lighting (over 20W), we must add aluminum channels as an additional way to regulate temperature.
Epoxy Resin and Polyurethane Glue with Silicone Adhesives have low cost but high quality with excellent temperature resistance from 0-60, -40-80 and -40-220 Celsius temperatures respectively, providing consistent performance over time.
5.Joining and Cutting LED Strips With Connectors
Connecting an LED strip without waterproofing it is an extremely straightforward process; all it requires is some basic pliers and connectors - this video provides instructions.
Sealing and Soldering Waterproof LED Strips Soldering two waterproof strips together can be challenging, so professional assistance may be worth seeking initially.
Installing waterproof LED strips: an installation guide. Installation is similar for both types, making the process straightforward; to achieve optimal results it is vital to follow each step carefully.
Electronics must be waterproofed. Waterproofing has a direct effect on their efficiency and lifespan, so professional installation may be best; otherwise waterproof LED strips can easily be added in your home for DIY installation.
As you view these tutorial videos, you should quickly gain the know-how necessary for starting an LED strip project. Be mindful of potential risks when starting this endeavor; taking extra precautions should see to your success!
